Method of decorating objects with wax

ABSTRACT

The object to be decorated is dipped into a bath of water having a molten wax film floating thereon of different color waxes preferably in swirls produced by a heat gun or torch which also keeps the film molten. The bulk water temperature is kept from 5* to 15* below the melting point of the wax film and the surface water and wax film are maintained above the melting point of the wax.

iinited States Patent [191 Putzer METHOD OF DECORATING OBJECTS WITH WAX[75] Inventor: Raymond M. Putzer, Racine, Wis. [73] Assignee: LenoxCandles, Inc., Oshkosh, Wis. [22] Filed: May 21, 1973 [21] Appl. No.:362,180

[52] 11.8. CI 117/39, 117/113, 117/121.2, 117/168, 431/126, 431/288 [51]Int. Cl B44d 1/04, B44d 1/06 [58] Field of Search 117/39, 43, 121.2,113, 117/168, 45; 161/234; 431/126, 288

[56] References Cited 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,817,225 12/1957 Weglin117/45 X 14 Feb. 18, 1975 Primary Examiner-Mayer Weinlblatt AssistantExaminer-Bruce H. Hess Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Andrus, Sceales, Starke& Sawall [57] ABSTRACT The object to be decorated is dipped into a bathof water having a molten wax film floating thereon of different colorwaxes preferably in swirls produced by a heat gun or torch which alsokeeps the film molten. The bulk water temperature is kept from 5 to 15below the melting point of the wax film and the surface water and waxfilm are maintained above the melting point of the wax.

9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures HEATER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention relates to a method of decorating objects with wax by thefloating film process.

'the wax particles the latter form a'gelatinous mass which adheres tothe candle in a raised design similar to scale.like incrustations.

One of the problems with the Weglin process as described lies in thegeneral inability to obtain clear demarcation between different colorsin the decorative pattern, and in a tendancy for the decorative patternto become muddy and cloudy.

While such process has been referred to as marbleizing, it has not beencapable of reproducing certain desirable marbling effects.

The present invention is based upon the discovery that the moredesirable marbling effects may be obtained by the herein specifiedimprovement of the We glin process. 7 I

SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION In carrying out the present invention the bulkwater temperature is maintained substantially below the melting pointfor the wax film, and the latter and the upper surface of the water aremaintained at a temperature preferably substantially above the meltingpoint of the wax. i

The temperature of the wax film is maintained by the use of a torch,heat gun or other means which can be manipulated to control the positionof the different colored wax films and even produce a swirling filmpattern through which the object is dipped.

The cooler bulk water temperature serves to quickly set the decorativecoating on the object being dipped as the clipping or submergenceprogresses. The object is then removed from the bath preferably at arate to avoid secondary coating effects.

It has been found that the wax film has little tendency to adhere to theobject as the latter rises through the film, although good adherenceresults upon the downward dipping of the object through the film.

After the decorative coating has been applied to an object and isthoroughly dried the object may be dipped into or sprayed withtransparent wax to give it a desired glossy finish and protect thedecorative coating. A quick dip in cold water will set the finishingcoat thus provided.

The process has been applied to produce multi-color decorated andmarbling effects upon wax candles of all shapes and various art objectsof other materials such as plaster of paris, sand and the like.

When non-wax objects are to be decorated, they should be first coatedwith a thin layer of transparent wax.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings illustratethe best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of a heated container suitablyfilled with water and the initial adding of a multi-color wax filmthereto;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 showing theapplication of the torch to. produce a swirling of the colored filmsupon the water;

FIG. 3'is a perspective view of the apparatus showing the dipping of acandle through the wax film and into the water;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view ofa candle after decoration by the process.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, theheated container 1 is suitably filled with water 2 to a depth to fullysubmerge the object to be decorated when dipped therein.

The container 1 and water 2 are initially heated to a temperature ofabout 5 to 15 below the melting point of the colored wax to be employedand is maintained at this temperature at all times.

Separate puddle-like globules 3 of differentcolored molten waxpreferably at a temperature substantially above the melting point aredropped upon the surface of the water and float thereon.

The wax globules 3 are prevented from congealing by employment of a heatgun or torch 4 which plays thereon at an angle and tends to spread theglobules into a thin film 5 which may coalesce or take on a swirlingpattern as shown in FIG. 2 depending upon the manipulation of the torch.

For this purpose the torch 4 is generally held at an angle of from 20 to45 from the horizontal and is' moved over the surface of the bath indifferent directional control to produce the desired pattern of swirl orcolor positioning.

The nearer the torch 4 is held to a 20 angle from the horizontal themore rapid is the swirling action of the wax film and the thinner thestreaks of color therein. The thickness of the film in any region mayalso be reduced by playing the torch above it. The effect of the torchis to provide an air stream blast against the surface of the wax film toestablish the desired swirling of the colors.

The invention has been applied to the decoration of candles, preferablyof a paraffin wax base composition, having a melting point generallybetween and F. The bulk water temperature for a candle of this meltingpoint is preferably about 125F.

The wax of film 5 is preferably of the same type of wax as the candle,although it is possible to employ higher melting point waxes such asthose of stearate base so long as they are compatible with the wax ofthe candle.

The wax film 5 and the upper thin stratum or surface water of the bathare preferably kept at a temperature generally in excess of about F toassure that the film is highly fluid to properly coat the object beingdipped.

The candle 6 or other object to be dipped while preferably at normalroom temperature is then slowly submerged in the bath by moving itdownwardly vertically or at a desired angle through a selected locationin the wax film or swirl pattern as shown in FIG. 3 whereby the wax filmadheres to and is progressively drawn by cohesion of the wax film towardand downwardly with the candle in the desired color pattern.

While it is preferable to remove the candle from the bath reasonablysoon after dipping, it is possible to leave the candle in the bath forsome time without danger of undue heat softening since the bulktemperature of the water is generally maintained below the softening orplastic range closely approaching the melting point of the wax.

Upon removal of the candle 6 from the bath the wax film has littletendency to adhere thereto and the initial color pattern generallyremains clear and bright on the candle.

After removal and thorough drying the candle or other object ispreferably over-dipped in a molten bath of clear transparent wax andimmediately immersed or quenched in cold water to give it a glossyappearance and protect the decorative coating thereon.

The decorated candle, as shown in FIG. 4, has clear bright color.lines.A pattern such as that shown in produced by rotating the candle atirregular speeds successively clockwise and counter-clockwise as it isdipped into the bath. The multi-color film freezes almost instantly uponthe candle as the two contact each other.

' Because of the sharpness of the color pattern, it is possible toobtain decorative effects heretofore unattainable with the Weglinprocess.

Also it is possible to decorate objects of other material wherecompatible with wax. These include various works of art made fromplaster of paris, rubber or sand molding materials. However, to insureproper adhesion of the decorative coating to such objects it has beenfound advisable in some instances to pre-coat the object with a clearwax prior to applying the present process thereto.

It is also possible to heat the wax film on the bath by separate meansfrom that employed to impinge an air stream upon the film for creatingthe desired color pattern and film thinness. I

A few drops of mineral oil added to the wax film 5 serves to preserveseparation of the colors therein.

Various modes of carrying out the invention may be employed within thescope of the following claims, particularly pointing out and distinctlyclaiming the sub ject matter which is regarded as the invention.

I claim:

1. A method of decorating an object with wax, com prising immersing theobject in a water bath in contact with a molten film of multi-coloredwax floating on said bath while maintaining the bulk water temperatureof said bath substantially below the melting point of the wax, andsupplying heat to the film of wax to maintain the same at a temperaturesubstantially above its melting point.

2. The method of claim 1 inwhich the bulk water temperature ismaintained at from 5 to 15 F. below the melting point of the wax, andthe surface water and wax film are maintained at a temperature generallyin excess of approximately 170 F.

3. The method of claim 1 in which the watertemperature of the bath isstratified, with the bulk temperature maintained at approximately F andthe surface water temperature maintained at approximately F.

4. The method of claim 1 and thereafter over-dipping the object in abath of clear wax followed by a cold water dip to protect thedecoration.

5. The method of claim 1 and impinging a stream of air upon the top ofthe wax film to produce a color pattern therein by a swirling action.

6. The method of claim 5 in which a heat gun is employed to both heatthe wax film and produce the color pattern therein, said gun beingdisposed at an angle of from 20 to 45 from the horizontal.

7. The method of claim 6 in which said heat gun is in the form of atorch applying both heat and air flow to the surface of the wax film.

8. The method of claim 1 and adding mineral oil to the wax film tocontrol the separation of colors therein.

9. The method of claim 5 and adding mineral oil to the wax film tocontrol the separation of colors therein. 1:

1. A METHOD OF DECORATING AN OBJECT WITH WAX, COMPRISING IMMERSING THEOBJECT IN A WATER BATH IN CONTACT WITH A MOLTEN FILM OF MULTI-COLOREDWAX FLOATING ON SAID BATH WHILE MAINTAINING ING THE BULK WATERTEMPERATURE OF SAID BATH SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW THE MELTING POINT OF THEWAX, AND SUPPLYING HEAT TO THE FILM OF WAX TO MAINTAIN THE SAME AT ATEMPERATURE SUBSTANTIALLY ABOVE ITS MELTING POINT.
 2. The method ofclaim 1 in which the bulk water temperature is maintained at from 5* to15* F. below the melting point of the wax, and the surface water and waxfilm are maintained at a temperature generally in excess ofapproximately 170* F.
 3. The method of claim 1 in which the watertemperature of the bath is stratified, with the bulk temperaturemaintained at approximately 125*F and the surface water temperaturemaintained at approximately 170*F.
 4. The method of claim 1 andthereafter over-dipping the object in a bath of clear wax followed by acold water dip to protect the decoration.
 5. The method of claim 1 andimpinging a stream of air upon the top of the wax film to produce acolor pattern therein by a swirling action.
 6. The method of claim 5 inwhich a heat gun is employed to both heat the wax film and produce thecolor pattern therein, said gun being disposed at an angle of from 20*to 45* from the horizontal.
 7. The method of claim 6 in which said heatgun is in the form of a torch applying both heat and air flow to thesurface of the wax film.
 8. The method of claim 1 and adding mineral oilto the wax film to control the separation of colors therein.
 9. Themethod of claim 5 and adding mineral oil to the wax film to control theseparation of colors therein.